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1. Information providers / counselling structures

2. Youth-targeted information campaigns about democratic rights and democratic values

3. Promoting the intercultural dialogue among young people

4. Promoting transparent and youth-tailored public communication

Information providers / counselling structures

The National Election Commission (CNE) is a public body of reference in Portugal, which provides details about all elections to citizens, which naturally includes young people. The CNE aims to:

• Promote the objective clarification of election acts and referendums to citizens, in  particular through the media;
• Ensure the equal treatment of citizens in all acts of census and election/referendum acts;
• Ensure equal opportunities for the action and communication campaigns of the candidates to a specific election and of the parties involved in the campaigns for referendums.

In addition to being the legislative body of the Portuguese State, the National Parliament also has a didactic and informative dimension targeted at the general public, and the younger audience. With the Youth Space (Espaço Jovem)/ Friends of the Assembly (Os Amigos da Assembleia), the parliament is explained in a simple and playful manner. Guided tours to the Parliament and interactive tours are also available.

IPDJ also develops several initiatives and is partner with other public or private entities, for the dissemination of information on youth rights and democratic values.

Specific contact points

Among its duties, IPDJ “Ponto JA” Information Centres aim to promote and develop citizenship values. There are currently 19 “Ponto JA” spots in the facilities of the decentralised services and at the headquarters of IPDJ.

The Ponto JA Information Centres fall within the competencies of the Department of Information, Communication and International Relations with regard to “executing  and monitoring IPDJ’s information policy, favouring the use of the local network of service points, IPDJ’s portal and helplines”, according to Decree no. 11/2012 (Article 3(2)(b)).

The operating costs of “Ponto JA” Information Centres are incorporated in IPDJ’s operating costs.

Youth-targeted information campaigns about democratic rights and values

Youth Parliament (Parlamento dos Jovens)

The Youth Parliament is an educational programme to promote citizenship, which aims to boost the interest of young people in civic and political participation.

Approved by Resolution no. 42/2006, of 2 June, the Youth Parliament programme is an initiative of the Portuguese Parliament, developed in partnership with the following entities: the Portuguese Institute of Sport and Youth; the Ministry of Education; the Ministry of Foreign Affairs; the Regional Secretariats of Education and Youth of Madeira and  Azores.

It is intended for young people from 5^th to 12^th grade schooling. The Youth Parliament programme is an initiative   that takes place in the country’s public, private and cooperative education, and in Portuguese communities inside and outside Europe.

The programme includes three stages during the school year. The third stage takes place in the Parliament, where elected young members of parliament meet, at national level, representing each district or autonomous region. In this meeting, after a committee and plenary debate, the final recommendation on the issue of that Youth Parliament’s edition is approved.

Euroschool Competition (Concurso Euroescola)

This competition aims to select Portuguese schools that will participate in Euroschool sessions at the European Parliament in Strasbourg. It involves all secondary schools participating in the Youth Parliament.

Commemorative days

IPDJ has long been working for the growth and promotion of active youth participation. As a result, several regular events were established, co-organised by youth structures, such as the National Youth Council and FNAJ – National Federation of Youth Organisations.

Consequently, the annual day dedicated to youth organisations is celebrated on 30 April, and the celebrations are usually national, with a focal point and a wide series of activities dedicated to disseminating the association, participation, youth activities, volunteering, and non-formal education values.

Another example is the International Youth Day, on 12 August, where various activities are regularly organised, also with youth co-organisation: in recent years, the activities have directly involved thousands of young citizens.

The Volunteer Day, on 5 December, is also an important reference in the annual youth calendar. This is the day when the event commemorating the awarding of the "Youth Association and Youth Volunteering" prizes takes place, including the competitions "Good Practices I Students Associations", "Good Practices I Youth Associations", "Good Practices I Volunteering Youth", and "Youth for Equality".

Promoting the intercultural dialogue among young people

In 2025, the PESSOAS 2030 Programme launched a call for proposals under the notice “Awareness-raising actions and campaigns to promote cultural diversity and the inclusion of vulnerable communities”.

It intends to support initiatives aimed at promoting equal opportunities, challenging prejudice, fostering intercultural and interfaith dialogue, and encouraging the inclusion of communities in vulnerable situations.

The programme will fund strategies that raise awareness among the public and institutions about equal access to the labour market and the fight against discrimination, particularly racial discrimination.

To this end, campaigns should be developed to raise awareness, inform, and disseminate messages in areas such as combating racial discrimination, managing diversity, addressing prejudice, promoting interfaith dialogue, and increasing knowledge of the services and support networks available to foreign citizens. These efforts aim to reinforce interculturality within society.

Promoting transparent and youth-tailored public communication

Youth information is one of IPDJ 's fields of work, grounded and in tune with the work of ERYICA — European Youth Information and Counselling Agency, where Portugal is represented by IPDJ since its foundation.

ERYICA conducts its intervention under the terms indicated in the European Youth Information Charter. This Charter, whose original draft was approved by ERYICA in 1993, was incorporated in IPDJ’s Statutes (Article 3(2) of Ordinance no. 11/2012, 11 January), and was revised and updated in April 2018, in ERYICA’s General Meeting in Cascais, Portugal.

IPDJ is currently a partner with several projects developed by ERYICA, namely in the Development of e-Learning Methodologies for Trainers, Training in Information for Youth, and in the Promotion of e-Participation in the information work for young people.